LPS hitch hiker

[Popain]

I got this trachy a week ago. The first two days, he looked picture perfect. Day three it receded past the skeleton and I couldn't help but stress over it. It made no sense to me considering my water parameters all good. I kept an eye on it and was babying it. Trying to feed it wasn't working. Last night I was watching it and found this little crab-like thing Inside! And on top so that I witnessed it spawning. So first thing this morning I took some tweezers and pulled him out from the hole. I tried looking it up and I think it may be from the xanthid species, but I'm not sure. It looks more like a queen bee? Has anyone else ever dealt with this? Oh, and the third pic is the hole he left!

 

[skinz78]

I think it's some type of hermit crab, I don't think it's a bad guy.

 

[stunreefer Verified Sponsor]

Any boring creature can wreak havoc on corals and should be removed, IMO/IME. Don't move the coral, keep water quality high, and allow it time to recover. I wouldn't try feeding it until it starts to look better and swell up to photosynthesize.

 

[Popain]

That was my first thought when I pulled it out. If it is then maybe all those babies it let out last night will hatch. If it's not and it's bad... I pray they don't survive. Lol. Or that might turn into a nightmare real quick

 

[Popain]

I tucked him under a ledge for now. My SunBrite's tend to be a bit too strong at first.

 

[stunreefer Verified Sponsor]

Yes definitely keep it completely shaded for a couple weeks. Might lose some color, but color can always come back.

 

[Popain]

Do you think I should fill the hole with some glue or something?

 

[Tahoe61]

It's a Gall Crab.

 

[Popain]

Thanks Tahoe. That is definitely a gall crab

 

[Tahoe61]

You're welcome. :-)

 

[ChaliceLove]

Def gall